The month of February started with vibrant colors, music, movements and spectacle as the National Arts Month unleashed its opening salvo at the Rizal Park, Manila, recently.

It was a celebration of bands, dancers and voices at the park’s central lagoon at 4 p.m. with the MMDA Marching Band, Manila City Band, Jocson Band, Quezon City Band, St. Clement Brass Band, Pangkat Kawayan, Taytay Philharmonic Orchestra, Letran Chorale and Dance Troupe, Navotas Streetdance Group, San Juan Streetdance Group, Museo Pambata, Vanni de la Rosa, Jaime Gubaton, Menchu Arandilla, Amado Hidalgo, Danilo Santiago, Robert Deniega, Edgar Villaruel, Frank Cana, Roger Santos and Buds Convocar.

This was followed by the launching program at 6 p.m. at the Concert at the Park at the open-air auditorium. Tenor Nolyn Cabahug opened the program with the National Anthem, after which there was an exhilarating lineup of performances by the Bayanihan Philippine National Folkdance Company, Lahing Batangan, Ballet Manila, PNU Kislap Sining Dance Troupe, UE Silanganan Dance Troupe, UP Dance Company, Sinukwan Performing Arts, the Philippine Ballet Theater, Earthsavers Ensemble, Professional Dance Teachers Association of the Philippines, Silliman University Kahayag Dance Troupe, Sining Bulakenyo, Powerdance and Quezon City Ballet.

The Ramon Magsaysay Chorale, UE Chorale, Joey Ayala, and Nolyn and Liza Cabahug serenaded the audience while stars appeared one by one in the sky, and the Manila Bay horizon put on mantles of different colors.

Punctuating the music and dances was the poetic joust, a balagtasan, among poets Vim Nadera, Teo Antonio and Michael Coroza. Theater artist Frank Rivera read a poem.

The Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines held a mini fashion show while there was an excerpt of Edward Perez’s play Frendster.

After the performances, the opening of NAM was officially declared by National Commission for Culture and the Arts chair Vilma Labrador and executive director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez. A fireworks display capped the evening.

NAM was also simultaneously launched in the cultural program Sining Gising on NBN 4.

The following morning NAM was celebrated at the Malacanang Palace. Vice-president Noli de Castro struck the ceremonial gong, jumpstarting the National Arts Month celebrations called Ani ng Sining sa Iba’t Ibang Sangay ng Pamahalaan, in which the arts will be brought to different government institutions. He was joined by DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Every Monday throughout the month, the NCCA will provide cultural presentations at government institutions to showcase a panorama of our rich cultural diversity and artistic expressions, from ancestral roots to new artistic routes of expression.

The NCCA, through the Office of the President, marked the beginning of the inter-agency National Arts Month celebrations during the flag raising ceremony dubbed Ani ng Sining sa Malacañang at Kalayaan Grounds on Monday, February 2, 2009.

The occasion was hosted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through the Office of the Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. Singing the doxology "Pambansang Dalangin ng Alagad ng Bayan" was the Office of the President Chorale, Correctional Institution for Women Kalahi Chorus, Ramon Magsaysay High School Chorale. After the singing of the National Anthem, the Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas followed led by DepEd Undersecretary and NCCA Chairman Labrador joined by the NCCA Committee heads of Subcommission on the Arts and National Arts Month celebrity endorser Yul Servo, City Councilor and Chairman of the Culture and Arts Committee.